Wednesday, September 12, 2012

How long is too long to wait for a cup of coffee? My travels
have taken me to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan and the hotel
is absolutely beautiful. In 1980 the movie “Somewhere in Time” was filmed here,
however, I have not particularly felt like there is a place in this time for me
here. I need to share that I am not here by choice, nor am I paying for my stay
– but that does not take away the concerns that I have had since before I
arrived, many of which were confirmed upon arrival. Yes, I arrived already
feeling defensive – getting repeated information about proper attire, “For
ladies…after 6:30 p.m. dresses or very nice pants suits are preferred” and “In
the evening, gentleman 12 years and older must wear a suit and tie after 6:00” sends
me over the edge – and again, I am not here by choice – this event is required
for me to attend so that I can work on a job for the next 12 months, and being
told what to wear during my off time, especially during my eating off time
challenges the rebel in me. So, when my luggage did not arrive at the hotel in
time for me to change for dinner last night and I am in inappropriate attire
for dinner – I was told by the concierge that there is a place across the street
where there will be others dressed like me where I can eat. I am going to write
about that experience at another time, I
am just trying to set-up the state of mind I was in this morning when I got up
and dressed for breakfast.

View from my table

Now I love my coffee in the morning. The thought of sitting
out on the 660 foot long porch which lines the entire front of this hotel in
the morning really got me up and out of bed (an hour earlier than usual because
of the time change). In addition to loving my coffee in the morning I am not
really a morning person, thus the heavy reliance on coffee to really get me
going…and the feeling of being a second class citizen still has not left me
from the night before…that’s the set-up. I go out hunting for a cup of coffee…no
coffee in the lobby…no coffee on the deck…I am escorted to the main dining hall
where I am promised coffee…I wait as a single diner for the wait staff to clear
off the worse room in the dining hall which seats hundreds of people. I left my room which is no more than 100 feet
from the dining hall 18 minutes ago…and still no coffee. As I am seated, I ask
for coffee, go to the buffet, return to my table and an empty cup, ask again for
some coffee…I finish my oatmeal and pick my cup up and signal to my waiter that
I would really like some coffee – I get a nod of acknowledgement…but still no
coffee. By this time I am a little agitated so I get up and go in search of
anyone who has coffee to pour into my cup. I ask three other wait staff for
coffee as I walk around the dining hall and they all just nod and walk away and
finally I spot her… a young woman who has a pot of coffee and I get up and chase
after her practically begging her to fill my cup. I felt like Oliver Twist in
the movie when he took his oatmeal bowl up to Fagin and begged “Please sir, may
I have some more?” And she just looks at me. I ask her again and as she turns
to walk away before filling my cup I have to use my cross-mother voice to get
her to transfer some of the coffee in her coffee-pot to my still empty cup.
Fourteen minutes after walking into the dining room and 32 minutes after
leaving my room I finally have my first cup of coffee for the day…now starts
the quest for half and half.

32 minutes from search to success

Perhaps I am being unreasonable, but I would like to think
that when the kind of money that is being paid to the Grand Hotel for me to stay
and eat here that I could get a waiter to get me a cup of coffee less than 32
minutes after I go searching for it. What do you think – reasonable or
unreasonable? How long is long enough to wait? What would you do if you were
in a place where you are virtually held hostage and there are no competitors
for your business – did I mention that I am on an island? Do you think that the
“no tipping” policy encourages this kind of lack of service? I would love to hear your comments.

Tomorrow I am
going to write about the fight my table got into with the wait staff at the
same breakfast (after a cup of coffee) about requesting that we pay twice
because we moved tables. I am not
impressed, nor do I think that I want to belong to place “somewhere in time”
where ever that is – I like living in a world where customers are valued.

Which is the most important item in this picture? This photo taken from the seat of my bicycle represents security to me. When I am out ...

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